Stage setting



E. GILBERT STAGE sETTiNG Dec. 5, 1939.

2 Smets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1939 E. GILBERT STAGE SETTING Filed Feb. 21. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 m M mf, mw VA Nm [M S Y E N R O T T A Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT FFCE STAGE SETTING Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,630

6 Claims.

This invention relates to stage settings and has for one of its purposes to provide a compact structure which may be unfolded intov a succession of scenes composed of a back wall and two side walls, with the scene sections forming the back wall of one scene adapted to swing forward and form the side walls of a succeeding scene. The scene sections are assembled in two groups, those of each group being hinged to- 'gether like the leaves of a book and so positioned that the free ends of the scene sections of the respective groups may meet in a vertical line to form the halves of a back wall of one vscene from which position they may be swung forward on their hinges to form opposite side walls of another scene.

A further object of my invention is to provide in combination with such hinged scene sec. tions foldable properties or additional scene elements attached to adjacent faces of said scene sections which when said faces are contiguous will lie folded flat between them and when said scene sections are swung apart from each other said properties or scene elements will unfold and assume a practicable form as a part of the stage setting.

A further object o-f my invention is to provide one, and preferably a pair of rotatable platforms which, with each change of scene caused by the pivotal movement of a pair of scene sections from a position where they form the back wall of a scene to positions Where they form the side walls of a scene, will provide means for translating various scene objects from a position behind the scenes to their proper positions in the scene.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide such a stage setting in which the change of scenery and properties may be conducted expeditiously without the necessity of dropping the curtain and at the same time produce a novel and pleasing effect upon the audience.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the followingr description of it taken inconnection with the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stage setting embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the stage setting in the cburse of transformation from one scene to another.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stage setting shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view online 4--4 of Fig. 3.

construction forming the stage proper of a theatre 10 or may consist of a supplementary floor that may conveniently rest upon the ordinary stage of a theatre as shown in Vthe drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, it] is the floor of a stage setting resting upon the floor Il of the stage of a 18S theatre. The door ill consists in part of two rotatable ring-shaped platforms l2 and I3 of substantial width lying iiush with the surface of the remainder of the floor Ill and provided withv casters lf3 whereby they may ride on the oor 20 Il being guided in a circular movement by the contiguous edges of the remainder of the floor l0.

A series of rollers such as l5 mounted at the lnside and outside edges of the platforms obviate friction between the said contiguous edges. These 25 rotatable platforms are preferably so positioned and of such size that they are more or less tangent to each other at the median line of the back wall of the stage setting and extend forward on the stage to a position near the front at each side 30 thereof. These rotatable platforms ar-e` thus adapted to translate from behind the scenes and place in position in the scene various. properties and other objects appropriate for the scene and translate them out of the scene to a position be- 35 hind the side walls of the stage setting.

The scene sections which in accordance with my invention are adapted to form successively the back wall and side walls of a number of scenes consists of two complementary assemblages of ,lov

scene sections numbered I6 to 25 and i5 to 25', both inclusive, pivotally mounted near the centersl cf rotation of the rotatable platforms l2rand I3. These scene sections mayconsistv of a suitable framework of wood, over both sides of which .are 45 secured layers of canvas upon vwhich may be aepicted any appropriate scene, and are vof the type commonly known as flatsi The scene sections of each assemblage are each rigidly secured along one edge to a longitudinal upright support "26 50 which is of somewhat greater width than the thickness of said scene sections, thus providing a space between them to accommodate the fold-- able properties or scene elements hereinafter described. kThese supports 26 yare joined to each 55 other by hinges 21 thus permitting the said scene sections to be opened and closed similarly to the leaves of a book. Each of the hinged assemblages is secured in an upright position to the floor IU of the stage setting by suitable braces 28 and are so positioned that when placed with the scene sections of the respective assemblages in substantially the same planes their free edges will be contiguous to each other and form a series of back walls for the stage setting and by swinging them forward in pairs a subsequent back wall will be disclosed while those swung forward may occupy positions forming the side walls of the scene. The scenic representations depicted on the sides of the scene sections should be such that the rear face of each scene section will conform with the front faces of the next succeeding pair of scene sections to form corresponding side walls and back walls of the particular scene intended. Suitable handles 29 project from the back of the supports 26 to enable the operators to move the individual scene sections on the said hinges without being seen by the audience.

The vertical line in which the several pairs of scene sections meet to form a back wall is not constinuous but the said scene sections are cut away in their lower portions as at 30 to form an opening in the center of the back wall corresponding in extent to the width of the rotatable platforms I2 and I3 and of sufficient height to enable the selected properties or scene objects on the platforms I2 and I3 to pass through. A series of closure members such as 3|, 3l', 32, 32', 33 and 33 for each of these openings consists each of a scene section conforming in size to the respective cut away portions and are mounted in an upright position on each of the said rotatable platforms I2 and I3 and may be brought into position by the rotation of the platforms to fill said openings in the scene sections accordingly as a pair of scene sections is positioned to constitute either the back wall of a scene or the side walls of a successive scene. It is obvious, however, that these closure scene sections should be disposed on the platforms at a circular distance from each other conforming to the circular distance to which the pair of scene sections are swung from a position where they constitute the back wall of a scene to a position where they constitute the side walls thereof. This may be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows an outdoor scene, the back wall of which is formed by the scene sections I1 and I1' while the side walls are formed of scene sections I6 and I6. The cut out portions in scene sections I1 and I1 are closed by the closure scene sections 32 and 32', the front sides of which bear the representation' of iron gates painted on an opaque background which may be the representation of a landscape. Similarly, the cut-out portions of scene sections I6 and I6' are closed by the closure scene sections 3I and 3i', on the rear side of which may be depicted on an opaque background, for example, an iron gate and a wooden door respectively, Fig. 2 shows scene sections l1 and Il' in the course of being swung forward to form the side walls of the next scene with scene sections I6 and I6 forming the back wall thereof. It will be noted that this succeeding scene will be that of an interior, the cut-out portions of scene sections I8 and I8' forming the opening of a double door to be filled by the closure scene sections 33 and 33' bearing on their front sides the representation of a pair of doors and carried by the rotatable platforms into registry with said opening. At the same time the closure scene sections 32 and 32 bearing on their respective rear sides the representation of a single door or a continuation of the pattern of the side walls on the rear sides of scene sections I1 and I1 are carried forward and around to close the openings in scene sections I1 and I1'. These closure scene sections, when they are to represent doors or gates, may be pivotally mounted on the rotatable platforms I2 and I3 and thus function as practicable doors and gates if so desired in accordance with the character of the particular scene.

It is to be noted that the rotatable platforms I2 and I3 move independently of the scene sections I6 to 25 and I6 to 25' inclusive, thus permitting the use of a large number of pairs of scene sections with rotatable platforms of limited diameters, since closure scene sections on the platforms may be removed and different ones substituted in the region behind the scenes.

In addition to the closure scene sections, various other properties, such as the garden wall and the bench 36, forming part of the entire scene may be arranged on the platforms behind the scenes so that with each change of scene made by swinging forward a pair of scene sections the other properties or scene objects required for the scene are simultaneously brought into their desired positions in the scene in substitution for those occupying positions on the floor in the preceding scene. By my invention there is thus obviated the necessity of first clearing the stage of the properties of one scene to make room for those which will replace them in the next scene or to allow a pair of scene sections to swing freely from a back wall position to a side wall position, which for obvious reasons would require a lowering of the curtain between scenes. On the contrary the change of the entire scene may be made in full view of the audience, thus producing a novel and pleasing effect upon them. If desired the performers in the next scene may ride into the scene upon the rotatable platforms.

Secured to the opposite faces of the adjacent scene sections are strips 34 of a suitable flexible material such as canvas to cover the open hinged joints to prevent the openings from being visible to the audience and giving an appearance of continuity to the back wall and side walls where that portion is visible to the audience.

Also secured to the opposite sides of adjacent scene sections are appropriate foldable scene elements which may be of any design in keeping with the particular scene and give an added effect to what otherwise might be a bare and sharp interlor corner. These foldable scene elements may consist, for instance, in an extension of the foliage of a tree mounted between scene sections I6 and I1, or a projecting portion of a building mounted between scene sections I B and I1', or may consist of properties such as a corner cabinet in an interior room scene. These scene elements are composed of a plurality of flat members hinged together and attached to opposite sides of two adjacent scene sections so that when said scene sections lie close together, they will fold flat and occupy the small space between them provided for by the greater width of the supports 26 hereinbefore referred to and when one of said adjacent scene sections is swung away at an angle from the other so as to constitute the side wall of a scene, these scene elements will be unfolded the desired extent to form the particular object it may be designed to have it do. For instance, the said scene element representing the extension of the foliage of a tree is composed of four fiat pieces hinged together along the lines 38, 39, 40 and 4I and is hingedly attached to scene sections I 6 and Il along the lines 42 and 43 and by relative movement of said pieces on their respective hinges caused by the pivotal movement of scene section il towards scene section i6 said scene element is folded so that the said four flat pieces composing it will lie together in substantially parallel plane between said scene sections as indicated in Fig. 2 while areverse relative movement between said scene sections will cause said four pieces to unfold and assume a three dimensional form of the foliage of the tree shown in Fig. 1. Again, said scene element representing a projecting portion of a building is composed of eight flat pieces hinged together along the lines 44, 45, 45, dl, 48, 49, 5U, 5l and 52 and is hingedly attached to sections I6 andl Il along the lines 53 and 54 and relative movement of said pieces on their respective hinges caused by the Vpivotal movement of scene section I1 towards scene section I5', said scene element is folded so that the said eight dat pieces composing it will lie t0- .gether in substantially parallel planes between said scene sections as indicated in Fig. 2 while a reverse relative movement between said scene sections will cause said eight pieces to unfold and assume a three dimentional form of the projecting portion of a building shown in Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that my invention is in no wise restricted to the embodiments illustrated or referred to, but that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A stage setting comprising a plurality of assemblages each composed of a plurality of scene sections each rigidly attached along one edge to a separate vertical support, a plurality of hinges connecting said supports, said assemblages being so disposed that the scene sections of one assemblage may all lie in substantially the same planes as the scene sections of another of saidv assemblages with their free edges contiguous to the free edges of the respective scene sections of said other assemblage and are adapted to be moved angularly therefrom. s

2. A stage setting comprising a oor, a plurality of rotatable platforms mounted in said iioor adapted to support and translate scene objects, a plurality of assemblages each composed of a plurality of scene sections pivotally connected together and mounted on said :door with their axes of rotation located adjacent the axes of rotation of said platforms and adapted for rotation independently of said platforms, said assemblages being so disposed that the scene sections of one assemblage may lie in substantially the same planes as the scene sectionsof another of said assemblages, said scene sections having cut-out .portions to permit scene objectsv carried on said floor and adapted to support and translate scene objects, a plurality of assemblages each composed of a plurality of scene sections pivotally connected together and mounted on said oor with their axes of rotation located adjacent theaxes of rotation of said platforms and adapted for rotation independently of said platforms, 'said assemblages being so disposed that the scene sections of one assemblage may lie in substantially the same planes as the scene sections of another of said assemblages, said scene sections having cut-out portions to permit scene objects carried on said platforms to pass therethrough, means located rearwardly of said assemblages for pivctally moving said scene sections, and a foldable form mounted in said floor and adapted to sup- Ascene element attached toopposite sides of twoy port and translate, scene objects, a plurality of f scene sections mounted on said floor, said scene sections having cut-out portions to permit scene objects carried on saidplatform to pass therethrough, and closure scene sections mounted on said platform conforming to said cut-out portions.

d 5. In a stage setting, a floor, a rotatable plat-l form mounted in said floor and adapted to support and translate scene objects, a plurality of scene sections pivotally connected vtogether and mounted on said floor, said scene sections having cut-out portionsv to permit'scene objects carried on said platform to pass therethrough, and

closure scene sections mounted on said platform conforming to said cut-out portions.

6. A stage setting comprising a oor, a plurality of rotatable platforms mounted in said floor and adapted to support and translate scene objects,.a plurality of assemblages each composed of aplurality of scene sections pivotally con,-

`. nected together and mounted' on said oor with their axes of rotation located adjacent the axes of rotation of said platforms and adapted for rotation independently of said platforms, said assemblages being so disposed that the scene sections of one assemblage may lie in substantially EDWARD GILBERT.

vthe same planes as the scene sections of another of said assemblages, said scene sections havingl cut-out portions to permit scene objects carried on said platforms to pass therethrough, and.55 l 

